R1: [11] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 3-2 Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-1 (82m)
Both players are tall, young, like to hit the ball like Nouran Gohar, find their targets to the front corners, and take their space.
A lot of discussions with the ref, who tried his best to keep them inline. They played the same game today, but Mahesh, as he admits it himself, was not 100% fitness ready because of the COVID situation, and ran out of steam at the end.
But some cracking rallies between the discussions!!! 🙂
What a performance from @maheshmangao so far! 👏
The Indian hasn't played a PSA match in 11 months… but he's taking the game to the Raging Bull here in Cairo! 🔥#BlackBallOpen pic.twitter.com/fzGlleA7ay
— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) December 13, 2020
Mahesh
This is definitely my squash.
During the pandemic, I worked with my coaches on my speed, and that’s the squash I want to play. Trouble is I can keep it up for a few games, but I cannot sustain that quality of shots long enough, and it fades away. So I’m not able to keep the quality of my length long enough. But if I manage to keep my quality of shots to the back, I can control the middle of the court.
I wasn’t 100% on court today, as I lack squash hitting, I wasn’t sure I was going to play this week. I was tested positive and kept being told I was positive long after I was cured, so I missed out on three events, and I was desperate that I wouldn’t get to play a single tournament this year.
So I think I did ok today, considering, and things might have been different had I had more squash practice.
I think I’m not too far from the top 30, and if I manage to play more squash, and keep my consistency, I think I can threaten them. There are a lot of positive to take away from this match. I know what I need to work on, but it’s another thing to actually implement it…
Mostafa
I didn’t expect that at all. Mahesh surprised me today. I didn’t think that he would play like that. I wasn’t ready for that type of match, a 3-2. Actually, I think it’s because I sleep too much! The beds at the hotel are soooo comfortable, I swear I keep on sleeping, and today, I slept until 4pm!
My dad was playing the whole time! I am happy to go through and maybe I am thinking about the next, and hopefully we can do good things today! In the end, I am thankful to go through, and I am ready for the next match.
